Determine Your Path to Leadership

Welcome to the Department of Educational Leadership. We offer paths toward administration in a K-12 and Higher Education setting. Please use the options on this page to choose your path.

Master’s Program

Master of School Administration (MSA)

The Master of School Administration (MSA) degree is designed to prepare individuals to become school leaders. Program studies are aligned with the North Carolina School Executive (NCSE) standards and include strategic planning, problem solving, instructional leadership, managerial leadership, political analysis, organizational theory and development, and leadership skill application.

Post Master’s Program

The Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in educational administration and supervision is a sixth-year post master's degree which requires a minimum of 38 semester hours and is designed to prepare individuals for senior level leadership positions in education. Program studies are adapted for the challenges of unique school district roles such as personnel administrator, curriculum supervisor, and directors of special program areas.

Doctoral Programs

The Doctor in Education (EdD) degree in educational leadership is designed to prepare administrators for senior level leadership positions in public schools or in higher education. This advanced level of preparation fosters the development of skills and abilities for individuals to resolve educational issues and problems.

Through rigorous scholarship and leadership preparation, the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership, Higher Education Administration Concentration aims to build the capacity of experienced leaders at community colleges, liberal arts institutions, research universities, and other academic organizations to effectively address contemporary and emerging challenges in postsecondary education and serve the public good.

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership - East Asia Cohort

The ECU EdD is designed for highly accomplished professionals who are teaching full-time and are motivated to complete all degree requirements, including the Problem of Practice Dissertation, in three academic years.

Licensure Only Programs

North Carolina Principal Licensure Only

The Principal Licensure Only program is designed to prepare individuals to become school leaders. Program studies include strategic planning, problem solving, instructional leadership, managerial leadership, political analysis, organizational theory and development, and leadership skill application.

North Carolina Supervision Licensure Only

The Supervision Licensure Only program is designed to prepare individuals to become instructional school leaders. Program studies include teacher leadership, law, policy, and politics in education, instructional leadership, and communication with home, school, and community.

Scholarship Program for Future Principals

Principal Fellows

The Principal Fellows Program (PFP) provides a competitive, merit-based scholarship loan to individuals of exceptional academic ability who have teaching or relevant experience and who desire to enter school administration in a North Carolina public school. Fellows have the opportunity to attend school on a full-time basis and earn an MSA degree in two years.